London, 1815. Eliza Somerton has a dangerous
secret. As the daughter of the infamous art forger who duped half the ton,
she’s rebuilt her life under a new name. But when an old forgery goes up for
auction, her father’s enemy, Grayson Montgomery, outbids her and presents her
with an unimaginable choice: help him find her father or he’ll ruin her.

For years, Grayson, the Earl of
Huntingdon and one of London’s top art critics, has sought justice. His
well-laid plans finally come to fruition when he learns of his enemy’s
beautiful daughter. But Eliza possesses a sensuality and independent spirit
that weakens his resolve, and as the heat between them sizzles, what started as
revenge soon blossoms into something sinful…

Hutningdon stood and walked
around his desk. For such a tall man he moved with remarkable grace. His jacket
of navy superfine stretched across broad shoulders, and a diamond pin glittered
in his snowy cravat. He was strikingly handsome, every inch the aristocrat and
exuded an air of command. She’d forgotten what a powerful opponent she had
chosen. But here…now…among his wealth and splendor her own position struck her
in stark contrast. The difference in their stations could not have been more
pronounced.

He halted before her and
raised her gloved hand to his lips. Eliza’s skin prickled pleasurably.

He smiled lazily and his
gaze traveled her form, missing no detail—even to the damp hem of her gown and
her sodden shoes. “I thought you would come, but I hoped you would wait until
it had ceased snowing. By the look of your shoes, I’m concerned you walked
here.”

“I took a hackney, my lord.”

“Did Stevens not offer to
take your cloak?”

“You know very well that he
did. I suspect you train your servants better than to omit such a detail.”

His eyes crinkled at the
corners, and a lock of his dark hair rested across his forehead. She had a
ridiculous urge to reach out and smooth back his hair.

“Then I can only hope it’s
that you simply can’t bear to part yourself from my gift,” he said.

“To the contrary, I’m here
to return it.” She attempted to take off the beautiful cloak and hand it to
him, but he stopped her with a hand on her shoulder.

Their eyes locked, and a
strange tingling began in the pit of her stomach.

Her voice was shakier than
she would have liked. “My family is not a charity project, my lord.”

“I don’t consider them to be
one.”

She swallowed hard. “I don’t
need your pity.”

He dropped his hand from her
shoulder. “Pity?” he chuckled. “You are not the type of woman to inspire pity.

Other emotions, perhaps. But never pity.” His eyes darkened a shade, and her
traitorous heart skipped a beat.

“Then why?” she said.

“Pardon?”

“The coal. The shawls and
cloaks. Why send them?”

“I thought I made my intentions
quite clear. You are to accompany me to interrogate Dorian Reed, remember?”

She tilted her head to the
side and shot him a disbelieving look. “You’ve already ensured my cooperation.
If I fail to meet my end of the bargain, you will turn over the forged painting
to the constable.”

He frowned as if he wasn’t
pleased with the memory. “I need you in good health. It bothered me that your
shop was so cold. There’s no reason for it to be so.”

The sincerity in his tone
took her aback. “Is that all?”

“Yes.”

“You expect nothing more?”

“No.”

She bit her lower lip. “You
must understand I’ve done just fine without your gifts. My sisters, however,
are a different matter. I do not have the heart to deny them any comfort that
may come their way, but I suspect you very well know that.”

“Your sisters are charming
ladies, and I’d rather they be warm this winter.”

He was making her feel
churlish. “I am truly grateful for the doctor you sent to see to Chloe. I will
reimburse you for the man’s services as soon as I’m able.”

“That’s not necessary.”

“It is to me.”

He tsked. “Stubborn.”

She raised her chin a notch.
“I prefer prideful.”

He smiled easily, as if
expecting her vehement protest. “Fine. I’m in need of your opinion. Consider it
recompense for the doctor’s services.”

“My opinion?”

“Your professional opinion
as the owner of a business.”

She halted, looking up at
him with surprise. No man had ever asked for her opinion.

“May I?” This time he was
the one to reach for her cloak. She stood still as he whisked the fur off her
shoulders and laid it across a chair. Her simple brown wool dress was crude in
comparison to the rich luxury of the sable.

Taking her hand, he placed
it on his sleeve and led her to the study door. Curiosity welled within her,
and she followed docilely. With a simple proposition and charming smile, he had
easily disarmed her.

As they ventured down the
hall, side-by-side, she could not help but notice the muscles of his forearm
beneath the fine fabric of his jacket and the pleasant scent of his shaving
soap. His nearness kindled unwanted feelings and her pulse quickened. Fearful
of meeting his gaze, she glanced down to discover that her sodden soggy shoes
were leaving wet marks on the polished marble floor. His butler was sure to
raise a brow.

Then every mundane thought
fled as he opened a door and escorted her inside a sun-lit room.

Oh,
my.

A multitude of brilliantly
colored works of art lined the walls. Her eyes were drawn to portraits of his
ancestors by Thomas Gainsborough, Francis Cotes, and George Knapton, sporting
artists George Stubbs and John Wootton, and cloud-tossed landscapes by John
Constable and George Lambert. The collection wasn’t limited to English painters
as splendid Dutch, Flemish, and Italian artists were also displayed.

His private gallery. And it
was stunning.

“It’s beautiful,” she
breathed.

“Yes, beautiful,” his voice
was husky.

She
turned to find him watching her. The invisible web of attraction was building
between them again. She glanced away nervously to study the art. It was much safer
than studying him.

Tina Gabrielle, an award-winning author, is an
attorney and former mechanical engineer whose love of reading for pleasure
helped her get through years of academia. She's the author of adventurous
Regency romances In The Barrister's Bed, In The Barrister's Chambers, Lady Of
Scandal, and A Perfect Scandal from Kensington Books. "A Spy
Unmasked" is the first book in her new Regency romance series, "In
The Crown's Secret Service," and will be released from Entangled
Publishing on November 10, 2014. "At The Spy's Pleasure" will be
available in April 2015. Tina's books have been Barnes & Noble top picks,
and her first book, Lady Of Scandal, was nominated as best first historical by
Romantic Times Book Reviews.